Before I’d even stepped off the Maglev at Longyang Road Station, I had already gotten my first taste of just how insane Shanghai was going to be. I’d already watched the train hit 430 km/h on the way in from Pudong Airport. As people in the metro station rushed past, the city (somehow) felt even faster.
On my first visit to Shanghai, I was only passing through on a visa-free transit layover en route to Hong Kong. (Famous last words.) A few days later, with my visa time ticking down, I was genuinely gutted to be leaving
Here’s why I think Shanghai deserves a spot on your next trip to East Asia…
Chow down on Shanghainese cuisine
Shanghai is a foodie city through and through. And I say that as a devout Asian food lover coming in with ridiculously high expectations.
There’s no shortage of delicious dishes to try in Shanghai, from sweet braised pork to hairy crab. But if there’s one dish that puts Shanghai on the culinary map, it’s Shanghai-style dumplings.
The two most famous varieties are xiaolongbao (steamed soup dumplings) and shengjianbao (pan-fried dumplings). And, in my humble foodie opinion, both are worth going out of your way for.
For xiaolongbao, I’d heard that Jia Jia Tang Bao (90 Huanghe Rd) was one of the city’s best. And it totally lived up to the hype.
Their pork and crab dumplings were some of the tastiest I tried anywhere in East Asia, and well worth the (somewhat long) wait. They’re packed with flavorful fillings including ginger, pork, and shrimp, and a silky smooth texture that feels as if it melts in your mouth.
For shengjianbao, Yang’s Fried Dumplings (178 Ningbo Rd) is the right move. Having already fallen deeply in love with xiaolongbao in Taiwan, I needed to try its crispier Shanghainese broski. And this insanely popular Shanghai institution did not disappoint.
Still hungry? At nearby Gaga Chongqing Spicy Noodles (82 Huanghe Rd) on Huanghe Road, the blazing noodles—served in a flaming-red broth and topped with peanuts—are a must for spice lovers.
When I visited this noodle shop, I was at the tail-end of my layover, nursing a worsening head cold. Clearing it out with this fiery bowl of deliciousness was the best decision I made the whole trip.
(Certainly a better decision than falling for the infamous Shanghai “tea scam,” but that’s another story.)
Gawk at Shanghai’s modern skyline
Although I’d already seen Shanghai’s neon-lit Pudong skyline in movies and iPhone commercials, nothing prepared me to see it with my own eyes. So, of course, my first goal on my first morning in Shanghai was to head down to the Bund to catch a glimpse for myself.
The view from The Bund over the Huangpu River towards the financial district in Lujiazui was one of the simplest yet most unforgettable experiences I had in Shanghai. And, as I discovered later that evening, it gets even better.
Although it’s stunning by day (ignoring those all-too-common smoggy days), the best time to check out the Pudong skyline from the Bund is in the evening. When the sun dips below the city, and the skyscrapers start to glow, it feels like stepping into a futuristic Cyberpunk dream. It’s absolutely one of the must-do activities while spending time in Shanghai!
To avoid the crowds of amateur photographers on The Bund boardwalk gathering at sunset, head to one of the nearby rooftop bars to take it all in with a cold beer, cocktail, glass of wine, or green tea in hand.
I enjoyed getting a front-row seat to the neon-soaked action at the Captain Bar (6/F 37 Fuzhou Lu). While it’s no longer the bargain-basement hostel bar it once was (nowhere in Shanghai is), it’s still an enjoyable spot to start your evening with good crowds and fantastic views.
Marvel at Shanghai from above
Standing on the Bund boardwalk looking at Pudong’s skyline is one thing. Getting up close to it is something else entirely.
There’s no shortage of places to do it. On my Shanghai layover, I went for the first one I saw: the Shanghai World Financial Center. Soon, I was patting myself on the back for making the right (random) choice.
Riding up to the observatory is an adventure on its own. It starts with an elevator to the 96th-floor gallery. From here, I hopped onto a short escalator to the Sky Walk on the 97th floor, the first floor of the observatory. It features a glass roof, staring directly up at your next destination.
From the 97th, head up (if you dare!) to the 100th-floor Observation Skywalk, suspended 474 meters above ground. As you’d expect, the views over Pudong and across the Huangpu are absolutely insane.
The highlight of this 55-meter-long gallery, though, is the glass floor section. Standing over it and looking straight down to the streets below is equal parts thrilling and absolutely terrifying. (My shaky knees were not happy with me.)
NOTE: I was super bummed to discover, while updating this article, that the observatory at the Shanghai World Financial Center is currently closed to the public. Not to worry: Keep reading on for more ideas…
The financial district in Lujiazui has no shortage of other options, too. Jin Mao Tower, the space-age Oriental Pearl TV Tower, and the Shanghai Tower are all worth considering, depending on your budget. (And how terrified of heights you are.)
If you want the mother of all views, however, beeline for the twisty Shanghai Tower. At a staggering 632 meters and 128 floors, Shanghai Tower is the world’s third-tallest building and features the world’s highest observation deck at a dizzying 562 meters.
Must-see? Yep, I think so.
Wandering around hip neighborhoods
When I threw Shanghai into my trip plans, I expected a fast-paced, business-first attitude and insane skyline. What I did not anticipate were Shanghai’s über-cool, laid-back city center neighborhoods.
One of my favorites I stumbled upon on my trip was the Former French Concession. Walking into this district for the first time felt more like entering a residential arrondissement in Paris than an area inches away from the core of China’s largest city.
This leafy neighborhood trades central Shanghai’s skyscrapers and neon lights for eight kilometers of cool, tree-lined avenues, well-preserved shikumen architecture, boutiques, art galleries, and outdoor cafes that move at an entirely different pace from the rest of the city.
The shikumen architecture alone is worth the visit. These stone-gated townhouses are found nowhere else in the world outside Shanghai, blending European and Chinese styles in a way that somehow works perfectly.
The upscale shopping & entertainment district of Xintiandi and the artistic quarter of Tianzifang are the two areas in the French Concession worth anchoring your time around.
(If I had to pick just one to explore, I’d take the slightly grittier, more atmospheric Tianzifang. It’s got some of Shanghai’s most distinctive 20th-century shikumen, hiding small shops, restaurants, cafes, and bars.)
Catch the vibes of ancient China
I’ll start this section off with a quick warning: for ancient history buffs, Shanghai probably isn’t the most compelling place to get your fix. With the rapid development following Shanghai’s economic boom, many of the city’s oldest quarters slid to the wayside in favor of new developments. What’s left can feel a little inauthentic at times.
As interesting as I found the aesthetic of Old City as a first-time visitor to China, I quickly discovered that there are a handful of fascinating historical attractions accessible on quick day trips from Shanghai.
For a quick half-day escape, Qibao Ancient Town is easily accessible via Shanghai’s metro system. With its arched bridges, cafes, and temples, I found this water-town-within-a-city refreshingly quiet compared to the chaos of central Shanghai.
If you’re looking for something more substantial to throw into your itinerary, the canal-filled city of Suzhou is just a short train ride away, too. It’s more of a “proper” city than I expected, but its canal districts are genuinely interesting and well worth the trip, in my opinion.
